CFR > Title 34 - Education > SUBTITLE B—Regulations of the Offices of the Department of Education > CHAPTER III—OFFICE OF SPECIAL EDUCATION AND REHABILITATIVE SERVICES, DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION (parts 300 to 397) > PART 303—EARLY INTERVENTION PROGRAM FOR INFANTS AND TODDLERS WITH DISABILITIES > SUBPART F—State Administration (§303.500 to §303.560) > 303.512—Minimum State complaint procedures.

303.512—Minimum State complaint procedures.

(a) Time limit, minimum procedures. Each lead agency shall include in its complaint procedures a time limit of 60 calendar days after a complaint is filed under § 303.510(a) to—
(1) Carry out an independent on-site investigation, if the lead agency determines that such an investigation is necessary;
(2) Give the complainant the opportunity to submit additional information, either orally or in writing, about the allegations in the complaint;
(3) Review all relevant information and make an independent determination as to whether the public agency is violating a requirement of Part C of the Act or of this Part; and
(4) Issue a written decision to the complainant that addresses each allegation in the complaint and contains—
(i) Findings of fact and conclusions; and
(ii) The reasons for the lead agency's final decision.
(b) Time extension; final decisions; implementation. The lead agency's procedures described in paragraph (a) of this section also must—
(1) Permit an extension of the time limit under paragraph (a) of this section only if exceptional circumstances exist with respect to a particular complaint; and
(2) Include procedures for effective implementation of the lead agency's final decision, if needed, including—
(i) Technical assistance activities;
(ii) Negotiations; and
(iii) Corrective actions to achieve compliance.
(c) Complaints filed under this section, and due process hearings under (1) If a written complaint is received that is also the subject of a due process hearing under § 303.420, or contains multiple issues, of which one or more are part of that hearing, the State must set aside any part of the complaint that is being addressed in the due process hearing until the conclusion of the hearing. However, any issue in the complaint that is not a part of the due process action must be resolved within the 60-calendar-day timeline using the complaint procedures described in paragraphs (a) and (b) of this section.
(2) If an issue is raised in a complaint filed under this section that has previously been decided in a due process hearing involving the same parties—
(i) The hearing decision is binding; and
(ii) The lead agency must inform the complainant to that effect.
(3) A complaint alleging a public agency's or private service provider's failure to implement a due process decision must be resolved by the lead agency.

Code of Federal Regulations

(Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1435(a)(10) )

Code of Federal Regulations

[64 FR 12536, Mar. 12, 1999]